124
The Truth About Angels
Satan, to manifest his strength, carried Jesus to Jerusalem, and set
Him upon a pinnacle of the temple.—
Spiritual Gifts 1:32
.
He [Satan] again demanded of Christ, if He was indeed the Son of
God, to give him evidence by casting Himself from the dizzy height
upon which he had placed Him. He urged Christ to show His confi-
dence in the preserving care of His Father by casting Himself down
from the temple. In Satan’s first temptation upon the point of appetite,
he had tried to insinuate doubts in regard to God’s love and care for
Christ as His Son, by presenting His surroundings and His hunger as
evidence that He was not in favor with God. He was unsuccessful
in this. He next tried to take advantage of the faith and perfect trust
Christ had shown in His heavenly Father to urge Him to presumption.
“If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, He shall
give his angels charge concerning thee; and in their hands they shall
bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.”—
The
Review and Herald, August 18, 1874
.
The wily foe himself presents words that proceeded from the mouth
of God. He still appears as an angel of light, and he makes it evident
that he is acquainted with the Scriptures, and understands the import
of what is written. As Jesus before used the word of God to sustain
His faith, the tempter now uses it to countenance his deception. He
[175]
claims that he has been only testing the fidelity of Jesus, and he now
commends His steadfastness. As the Saviour has manifested trust in
God, Satan urges Him to give still another evidence of His faith.
But again the temptation is prefaced with the insinuation of distrust.
“If Thou be the Son of God.” Christ was tempted to answer the “if,”
but He refrained from the slightest acceptance of the doubt. He would
not imperil His life in order to give evidence to Satan.—
The Desire of
Ages, 124
.
When Satan quoted the promise, “He shall give His angels charge
concerning Thee,” he omitted the words, “to keep thee in all Thy
ways“: that is, in all the ways of God’s choosing. Jesus refused to go
outside the path of obedience. While manifesting perfect trust in His
Father, He would not place Himself unbidden in a position that would
necessitate the interposition of His Father to save Him from death. He
would not force Providence to come to His rescue, and thus fail of
giving man an example of trust and submission.—
The Signs of the
Times, December 10, 1902
.